June 9, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
In their five games on the first day of the MLB draft, the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliates went 2-3 despite seeing some impressive hitting performances.

 
Buffalo Bisons 9, Rochester Red Wings 6
The Bisons finally got a win against the Rochester Red Wings, but it took a big showing from the bats to do it. Slugging 14 hits including a home run from Jesus Montero, the Bisons managed to beat the Minnesota Twins’ top farm club. Montero was one of three Bisons with three hits, going 3/5 with the home run and three RBI. Dalton Pompey was 3/5 with three runs and a stolen base while Domonic Brown was 3/5 with three RBI and a run. Alexi Casilla was 2/4 with two runs, a stolen base and an RBI.

Roberto Hernandez allowed three runs on three hits but five walks in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts before Ben Rowen took over and gave up just one hit over two innings, striking out two. Pat McCoy came in to finish the seventh inning but faltered when he came back out for the eighth, not getting an out and both runners came around to score against Dustin Antolin. Antolin was charged with a run of his own, blowing the save and then picking up the win. Ryan Tepera got the save, pitching the ninth without allowing a hit.

Player of the Game: Jesus Montero

 
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels 6
Despite two home runs from freshly promoted Jason Leblebijian, the Fisher Cats couldn’t come back to get the lead from the Richmond Flying Squirrels in a 6-5 loss. Leblebijian, recently named a Florida State League All-Star, has been on fire in New Hampshire, adding two more home runs to his season, going 3/4 with a double and two home runs, driving in four runs, taking a walk and scoring twice. Ian Parmley had three hits including a triple, scoring but also making an error.

Casey Lawrence was roughed up for five runs on 10 hits (including two home runs), walking one and striking out three over 6 1/3 innings. Colt Hynes allowed another run in 1 1/3 innings, giving up a solo home run while Wil Browning allowed just a hit while striking out two over 1 1/3 innings.

Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, St. Lucie Mets 10
The Blue Jays got out to a 6-3 lead after the seventh inning but, in the top of the eighth, the St. Lucie Mets tied it up and went ahead in the top of the 11th to win 10-6. In his second start since coming back from the DL, Taylor Cole allowed three runs on 10 hits in five innings but didn’t walk anyone and struck out three. Kyle Westwood continued to pitch well out of the bullpen, striking out one in his inning but Tim Mayza allowed three runs in two innings and Brad Allen allowed three of the final four in the 11th after pitching two scoreless innings. Alonzo Gonzalez got the final out of the game but not before allowing all three runners he inherited from Allen to score. Gonzalez was charged with an unearned run on a hit and two walks.

Emilio Guerrero led the offense, going 2/5 with a double, a triple and three RBI while Ryan McBroom went 2/4 wtih a double and a walk. Derrick Loveless was on base three times, going 1/4 with a double, two walks and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero

 
Lansing Lugnuts 5, Lake County Captains 6
Back in the single digits when it comes to runs, the Lugnuts still couldn’t beat the Lake County Captains, falling back to the .500 mark at 29-29 thanks to a 6-5 loss, with the bullpen allowing three runs in the eighth inning. Midwest League All-Star Angel Perdomo wasn’t as dominant as he has been, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings but striking out six before Starlyn Suriel took over with two runners on in the sixth inning. Suriel allowed both runners to score, giving up two hits but didn’t allow anything else in two innings, striking out two. Dusty Isaacs, another All-Star, wasn’t his normally reliable self, blowing another save and taking the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in his inning of work.

Lane Thomas was 1/3 for another home run, his third game in a row with a blast and his fourth in five games and adding a stolen base and a second run scored. Jake Thomas maintained his .500 batting average, going 2/4 with a run and Juan Kelly also hit a home run, going 1/3 and driving in a pair of runs (the second with a sacrifice fly). Max Pentecost was 1/4 with a double and an RBI as was Carl Wise.

Player of the Game: Juan Kelly and Lane Thomas

DSL Blue Jays 7, DSL Padres 4
The Blue Jays scored in bunches to beat the DSL Orioles1 team by a 7-4 score. Victor Figuereo was 3/5 with asingle, a double and a triple, driving in two and scoring once. Yhordegny Kelly was 2/3 with two walks and a double, driving in a run while Yorman Rodriguez was 2/3 with two runs and a walk.

Maximo Castillo went three innings, allowing a run on one hit and striking out two while Emmanuel Reyes threw three hitless innings with a walk and three strikeouts. Oscar Brito gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning and 18-year-old righty Jesus Colman earned the save, allowing a run on three hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings in his professional debut.

Player of the Game: Victor Figuereo

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